The twins had been in the City for only a short time but the promise of a new journey was already enticing to Alison. Alison floated across the ground a bright smile on her face while her brother trailed behind her with an uneasy frown.
“She’s really tall Alistair,” she said turning to face him with a grin.
“How can you be so excited about this?” he asked her finally. The sky was darkening, the stars twinkling above them and things turning from dark orange to purple and pink. People were lighting torches all around to illuminate the city for the evening.
She turned toward her brother and flexed her hand. The glowing blue veins were gone but there was minor scaring like some neon ink on her hand and down her arm was there. “Because this Al.”
Alistair stared at where the veins had been and took her hand slowly. He squeezed it and then nodded again. “I know what happened last time.” Then he glared at her. “You said that it wasn’t happening anymore. That it was under control.”
She glanced away from him and then at the ground. “I lied okay. I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Yeah and we’re not supposed to keep secrets from one another.”
She stared at the ground and nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”
“Its not the first time that’s happened to you has it.” She shook her head. “How long?”
“A few days after we left home.”
“Are you serious?” He walked away from her for a moment putting a hand to his head. Dragging his fingers across his face he turned to face her again and scowled. “How much do you believe Poppy’s teacher can actually do for you?”
“You could sense Poppy’s power while we were there. She wasn’t that powerful. Not enough to help you, let alone me gain control. No offense.”
He waved his hand. “It’s fine. What if he can’t help you?”
“What then? Do I just hope that my magic doesn’t completely eat me away?”
“No. Just. I don’t trust her alright.”
“Morrigan?” he nodded. “Why?”
“You can sense it too. She doesn’t feel right. Not like a normal person. Or even a normal mage.”
Alison opened her mouth to argue but she nodded. “I know what you mean but,” She couldn’t finish the thought. She felt it when she looked at Morrigan. As if there was something else inside her, another presence that hovered over her. Like she was just the vessel for something.
Before they could finish talking, Vincent approached pulling Blaze’s reins along with the other darker horse. He had saddle bags in his free hand and held his hand out to Alistair who checked through them quickly then nodded. “Water skins, some food, a flint,” he continued to mumble off the contents as Vincent looked at Alison who floated casually. “Why did you give me these if you’ve already packed the bags?”
“Because one is supplies. The other is special Rogue stuff. I’ll show it to you when we make camp tonight.” He grinned at the thought.
Alistair laughed. “Hear that sis? We’re actual Rogues now.” She clapped in response and Vincent rolled his eyes.
“That woman. She’s a piece of work ain’t she.”
Alison nodded. “Where did you meet her before?”
Vincent glanced at the ground and sighed. “Sometimes you get drunk and do things you wish you hadn’t.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Though compared to then, she’s a different animal entirely.”
“What do you mean?” Alistair asked.
Vincent rubbed his jaw in thought for a second. “I’m not sure how to explain it. If I had to put some words to it, I’d say she wasn’t as human.” He mussed with his hair turning to fire with how fast he rustled it. “Thinking this hard is giving me a headache. Just everything in me says be careful around her.”
“You think she’d betray us?” She asked again.
“Betrayal implies that she sees us a team.” Vincent said putting a hand to his mouth. “More like we’re tools to her and if we stopped being useful she’d leave us behind in a heartbeat.” He said meeting the twin’s eyes each individually. “We’re going to Sanctum territory. You know what that means right?”
Alistair glanced at his sister but nodded slowly. “They don’t like magic. Think it’s an affront to their God.”
“Exactly. One slip up and one of their mage hunters will be coming after us. Imprisonment would be the best outcome for you,” He said. “Is finding a teacher worth risking all of that?”
They exchanged glances again but Alison floated forward her feet gently brushing against the ground. “How much do you know about mages?” she asked.
Vincent shrugged his shoulders. “Not a whole lot.”
She exposed her arm and showed the scars on her arm. Vincent stared at the wound in confusion. He didn’t understand why it was that color or even how she got it. “I can wield my magic but it does as much harm to me as it would to those I’d fight.”
“Why use your magic if it’s going to start killing you?”
“Because it’ll come out even if I don’t use it. Like a vase filled with too much water. If it can’t over fill it’ll crack,” She looked down “and eventually break. Kinda the reason I always float instead of walk. That and my legs don’t work anymore. Couldn’t walk if I wanted to anymore.”
“And a teacher will help you what? Control it better?”
“Control and expel.” Alistair said. “Keep the flow of magic going so that it won’t stay inside her and kill her.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Do you have the same issue?”
“Thankfully no. I’m not as powerful as my sister.”
He let out a deep breath, “Alright. I’ll do my best to keep you out of trouble in Sanctum territory until we can find your teacher.”
Alison and Alistair both shared a smile and hugged him which he wasn’t remotely expecting. It was an awkward hug to return but he attempted. When they separated he motioned toward the horses. “Let’s go find our fancy companion and get moving.”
They mounted their beasts, Blaze throwing his head back in recognition. He stamped the ground and the black horse that the twins were riding responded well. Alison patted its flank, Alistair stroking its neck. Leading the horses down the street they found the tower to have more people there. People were gathered speaking and laughing. There were entertainers juggling balls of fire, creating colorful displays of light and selling sweets.
Morrigan was leaning against the tower, watching the entertainment and eating a kabob. As they arrived, she stood slowly. “Cutting it close.”
“It’s not like you gave us a lot of time,” Vincent said and she nodded finishing the last few bites. Blaze snorted in her direction like the good horse that he was.
“Hmph.” She snapped the skewer in half a few times and started walking back toward the exit that went toward the east. “You’re a map maker.” She said not bothering to turn and face him.
“What of it?”
“Give me one of them.”
“What for?”
“Comparing notes. Hand it over.”
He grumbled to himself reaching toward the pouch at Blaze’s saddle and took out a rolled piece of parchment. She took it and unrolled it slowly holding it to the light. Tracing it with her eyes quickly she made a noise. “Just as I thought. My Queen’s influence still stretches as far as I’d hope. This is a good map. Comparable to my own.”
“Thanks,” he said unenthused as she gave it back.
The four of them approached the gate and the guards had already started lifting it. Once the gate had been lifted entirely, there was that presence. It watched them as they left and Alison and Alistair both shuddered looking back at the city. Almost as if the presence was waving goodbye.
As Morrigan crossed the threshold she felt relief. Relief in not having eyes prying at her back but also feeling her Queen’s presence around her that much stronger. She stared at the sky, looking at where the moon was going to be hanging in a few hours and felt a measure of comfort.
Vincent felt the comfort of the open world before him. A passenger sitting behind him and pointing him where he wanted to go. The wind was his compass and his wits were his drive. Looking back at the city he felt as if someone was waving at him. Bidding him safe travels.
Opening his map slowly, he traced the path on the map, doing the same on the map within his mind. “It should take us about three days to cross the border. Once we’re there we’re gonna have to actually find and locate this mage.”
“Leave it to us,” Alison volunteered.
“Do you have a horse or are you going to be walking?” Vincent asked glancing at Morrigan. Before that would have been sarcasm but after meeting the twins, he wasn’t ruling anything out.
“No. I have a mount.” She drew her rapier from its sheathe slowly. Holding it above her head she began to spin the blade creating a soft whistle in the air. She kept this motion going over and over as the whistle grew louder.
And then it became clear. As if materializing out of reality itself white horse appeared. Except white was the wrong word for the coloring. A pale moonlit color that didn’t glow. More like a dry faded grey of a ghost. The horse approached Morrigan and slowed its steps to stare at her with smoldering coals of eyes.
“Well met Eaergo,” She touched the creature’s neck and then stepped into the stirrups swinging her leg onto its back. She turned to face them and arched her eyebrow. “Lead the way bandit.” She said to Vincent and he glared at her but pulled Blaze’s reins and started down the path. The twins set in behind and she took up the rear.
They rode for the better part of the evening and into the night. The moon was barely a disc in the sky closer to a new moon than anything else. They didn’t even have shadows anymore. Just riding in the darkness. Vincent understood it mainly because he knew theses paths and his eyes had adjusted the best that they could.
The wind blew across them setting the empty dessert out. The harsh reality of the desert was that it got very cold at night. The horses and their riders breath showed visible on the air. Fighting a yawn, he turned Blaze’s reins off the path that was beaten into the ground by travelers and off into the unknown dessert.
Riding for another hour the dessert hadn’t changed much. In fact it looked almost entirely the same. There were now lights on the horizon to run to. Vincent looked around them and glanced down at his map again. The others caught up to him, Morrigan riding to level.
“Why have we stopped?”
“Normally this is a short cut but something’s been bothering me.” He said looking around. The mountains were off to their left far away. There were the dead sporadic trees dotting the path like markers. He couldn’t even hear the coyotes hunting or fighting for scraps. It felt empty.
“You’re a killer right?” He asked not looking at Morrigan.
“Yes. Why?”
“So, you know what it’s like to sense intent.”
“Of course.”
“Then do you feel that?”
She paused for a moment and turned her head. Her gaze swept the area around them and slowed her breathing. She listened and felt around her but she turned to face him her eyes were narrowed.
“Why is it so empty here? I can barely sense anything.”
“What are you two talking about?” Alistair asked looking between them. He glanced at his sister and she shrugged not understanding either.
Before anyone could speak up and start tossing out theories a roar echoed across the air. Like two slabs of stone scratching against one another in a narrow cave. A long echoing noise that spooked everyone’s horses except Morrigan’s. Vincent’s eyes went wide as Blaze stamped forward a few dozen feet.
He calmed his horse and turned his head toward the origin of the sound. And what he stared at didn’t make sense. A creature whose ever step sent a tremor across the ground. It walked on two feet but its hunched over posture and long arms made it seem unnatural for it to do this.
Its skin was dark, as if made of the shadows solidified. He could see the hardened scales across its chest and arms, like the pieces of a tortoise’s shell except scaling across its entire front and arms. Its mouth hung open with rows upon rows of teeth, steam billowing from out of its mouth. Yet there weren’t eyes where they should have been. Just more smooth scales.
It continued forward stomping slowly across the dessert toward them. Each rider stared at it mouth open unable to form a coherent word. Each shaking step brought the thing closer and Vincent choked out a word. “Demon.” He said finally.
It was like the spell was broken and each of them talked at once.
“That is way bigger than what Poppy showed!”
“That thing is what the Calamity is bringing into our world?”
“We need to escape. While we still have the option to do so!”
“Very very good idea!” Tugging on Blaze’s harness he dug into his flank and the horse jolted to life sprinting in the exact opposite direction. Morrigan was right next to him but he noticed that they were lacking a pair of twins.
Vincent glanced over his shoulder and their horse was standing still. Alison and Alistair both were trying to encourage the thing to move but it was frozen. The demon wasn’t far in the distance anymore far closer than before. The ground shook harder as it came forward and it became clear that it wasn’t lumbering forward any longer. It was running.
“Shit shit shit!” Pulling on the handle bars he turned Blaze back toward the demon and his horse grunted trying to stop this. “Come on Blaze! Trust me!” The horse threw his head back but started forward. Galloping fast he crouched low as the wind whistled past his ears. He could faintly hear the twins shouting their voices getting higher and higher with each stomp of the ground.
When he caught up to them the demon was almost on them. What little light there was was getting eclipsed by the shadow of the creature. For a moment Vincent froze, overwhelmed by the thing that stood in front of him. On Blaze’s back he barely came to the creatures waist and its body was wide enough to be Blaze twice over.
Staring up toward the head the mouth opened and let out another roar. The air rippled around him and he slumped forward for a moment. His eyes had gone cross, his fingers slightly numb and his ears rang. Thankfully Blaze was able to keep his wits about him and darted toward the dark horse that held the twins.
The dark horse jolted forward but it was too late. One of the demon’s massive hands swept down and grabbed the horse in one giant hand. Both twins slid out of the saddle before they went too high. The twins crashed into the ground in heaps. Vincent came back to his senses as Blaze ran toward Alistair.
Forcing himself to think straight he reached down and grabbed him by the back of his shirt. He lifted him straight onto Blaze’s back grunting at the strain. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as the demon’s mouth opened wide. The horse’s terrified screams filled the air as it was brought to the things mouth.
One solid chomp and the scream was silenced. Blood showered across the ground as it ate. He could vaguely hear the crunch of bones as it was devoured by the demon and his stomach flipped back and forth just at the sounds. He was grateful for the moon being hidden because he didn’t want images to be attached to what he was hearing.
“We have to get Alison!” Alistair shouted from behind him and Vincent nodded trying to steer Blaze back but this time around the horse wasn’t having it and continued to spring away.
“Dammit Blaze won’t turn!”
“I’m not leaving my sister behind!” He turned to look back and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t see her on the ground or anywhere nearby. He saw the demon, its hand moving away from its bloody maw.
Before he could even come to the conclusion that scared him, he saw Morrigan ride up alongside them and Alison was at her back. “I’m safe Al!” As they passed the twins reached toward one another but they weren’t quite close enough to touch.
“I’m glad the pair of you managed to survive but now is not the time. We need to escape. If that’s possible!” Morrigan said guiding the reins of her ghostly mount but the stress was showing on her face.
As if on cue the demon roared again sending shivers down their backs. The ground shook and both twins stared at the demon as it began to chase them. Each step sent quakes under the feet of their horses. It was coming after them. Apparently one horse wasn’t enough for it.
“It has to be possible.” Vincent mumbled under his breath. An idea started to form in his mind but he had almost no confidence in whether or not it was going to work. It didn’t have to even stop the damn thing. Just to distract it. “Alistair can you reach my saddle bags?”
“Yeah.”
“Go through it until you find some cylindrical containers.”
“What’s a bunch of water skins going to do for us right now?”
“Not that bag. The one from the Rogues!”
Still equally confused he did as he asked. It took several tense moments of digging the sounds of the demon’s footsteps calling the dinner bell for them. Alistair let out a sound as he lifted three tied packages together. He looked them over quickly but Vincent had his hand out. “What is that thing?”
“That thing is the only way that we’re going to survive this night!”
He looked at Morrigan and held it to her. “You’re one of the Cerise. Your people know about explosives, right?”
She took the bundle and scowled turning it over. “This is beyond crude!”
“Sure is! But it’s going to get the job done! It’s a distraction nothing more!”
“When desperate times call for desperate measures.” She said and nodded.
Vincent glanced back at Alistair. “Find me another! Fast!”
The twin dug down to do just that when another roar echoed behind them. The creature, whatever it was, was getting frustrated. Alison glanced behind and watched as the demon sped up running on hands and feet. It was covering more ground and rather than slow building quakes it was a constant rumble as it gained on them.
She turned back looking at them and shouted, “Whatever you’re going to do, do it fast!”
Alistair had found another one and shakily passed it over to him. He looked it over and took his hands off the reins and reached toward the bag closest to him getting a flint out. Holding the explosive between his legs he looked over at Morrigan. “Light it and throw it behind you as fast as you can!”
“I know how to use these things bandit!” she shouted back already getting it lit.
Vincent did as well and glanced over his shoulder at her. With a quick turn he chucked it backyards and didn’t bother watching it. Alistair on the other hand did turn to watch it go. It spiraled backwards the only point of light in the darkness but it didn’t collide with the demon. It hit the ground and bounced a few times before exploding underneath the demon’s chest.
The explosion rocked the air, deafening any sound of the demon’s approach. The light was so blinding that Alistair had to look away immediately, spots in his eyes. The demon stumbled mid stride and almost collapsed onto the ground. It roared as it flailed around to keep its footing on the ground and its true anger was coming.
Morrigan threw her package backwards and Alison watched it go but it didn’t work out like the other. Amidst the demon’s flailing its hand bumped into the bomb knocking it towards them. It bounced twice before exploding and this time it was too close to them. It exploded and the force from the blast sent Morrigan, Alison and Eaergo off the ground.
The horse dissipated in the air, turning into the mist. The two riders crashed into the ground sliding across the travel. Morrigan scowled and coughed, her body aching heavily. Alison was curled in a ball on the ground the pain too much for her at the moment. Two heavy collisions on the ground had more than winded her.
Morrigan stood up shakily and she was torn. She needed that mage to find her target but if she stood back to defend the girl, she was likely to die. But she could hear her Queen’s voice when she gave her the task. Stepping forward quickly she started running toward Alison her hand on her katana’s blade.
She felt its hunger waking up at the prospect of a fight. It didn’t seem to differentiate between people she could fight and things that were more than likely able to destroy them both. As she drew the blade she saw her vision bleed red and her blood soaked the edge as it became a longer, sharper, blade.
Standing over the girl she watched as the demon righted itself and approached them. They had seconds, a minute at best, before it would be upon them and they would be trampled or worse. It would have blocked out the sun if it stood on its hind legs. Its arms were thick, at least three times as wide as she was. She could only guess at where its head was let alone where its mouth would begin.
She didn’t take her eyes off the creature and instead spoke in a distorted and sharp voice. “Mage! Stand up! Now! We’re going to die unless we start running!”
Alison managed to get her eyes open. Her body was one big sore, her legs numb. Turning her head, she could barely make out the shape of Morrigan standing over her. “I can’t walk.” She mumbled supporting herself with her hands.
“What do you mean you can’t walk?”
“My legs are too weak. They can’t support my weight.”
Morrigan started swearing up and down reaching to her hip and drawing her other sword. She pulled the switch as the mechanism shifted and turned into its rifle form. “Well I hope you have some form of spell to cast. Or else the both of us are going to find out what the inside of a demon is like.”
Alison looked past Morrigan and saw the hulk shape of the demon approach and her heart nearly stopped. She’d never felt fear like this before. Fear mixed together with her need to run. But she couldn’t run. She grunted and forced herself to float off the ground but she could only get a few inches up.
She put a hand on Morrigan’s shoulder and the Sanguinight started but glanced at her. “Carry me. I won’t weigh anything.”
The woman scoffed but did so. Alison wrapped her arms around the knight’s neck loosely and tried to wrap her legs around her waist. Taking a slow breath, closed her eyes, and she tried to focus. Ignore her own anxiety of impending death barreling toward her.
When her eyes opened, they were glowing along with her hands. She leaned more into Morrigan’s back and pointed at the demon. “Hold still!” she shouted and held both palms up. They glowed but her arms shook, shook with an uncertainty and unsteadiness that had nothing to do with experience and everything to do with her task.
Alistair was sprinting toward her his legs long and coiling like springs as he leaped toward them. The wind whistled in his ears. His heart pounded in tune to the wind but all he cared about was getting to his sister. If she was going to face death then she wasn’t going to face death alone.
Alison grit her teeth together and screamed. The scream came from deep in her soul and she shoved both hands forward. Light exploded from both her palms to blinding levels as the demon approached. Morrigan’s every instinct told her to run, to move back and flee but the power she felt from her back made her stand her ground.
The demon’s arm came into view trying to crash down above their heads and Alistair watched this. Thinking that he was too late. That he was going to watch his sister die right in front of his eyes but the hand never crushed them.
It slowed down and then froze in the air. The light grew brighter as Alison let out another shout and leaned ever forward. Ice formed all along the demon’s arm stopping it from moving any further. The demon began to roar as the ice began going straight to its chest and to its legs. The roar died out with a whisper as its head was encased in the ice.
The plain was silent. No one spoke or even know what to say as the icicle that was the demon stood like some horrifying sculpture. They were dumb founded but Alistair was once again sprinting to his sister’s side.
When he finally slowed down, he watched Morrigan catch his sister and lay her against the ground. Her eyes were still glowing and crawling over both her arms were fresh veins glowing the same translucent blue. She wasn’t moving or even talking. “Alison. Alison come on this isn’t funny.” Alistair came closer and put a hand on her shoulder and then waved his hands in front of her face.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s unconscious,” Morrigan said sheathing both of her blades slowly. Slumping to her knees as the swords influence left her, she stared at the twin and sighed. “She somehow stopped that demon in its tracks. She’s burned herself out. But that thing isn’t dead.”
Alistair started as he looked at the demon again. It wasn’t moving. It looked like a statue but just looking at it brought a chill to his spine. It felt like it was looking at him. Somehow someway it was aware of them. Aware that it couldn’t move. She was right.
Vincent rode up to them both, Blaze stamping backwards in the demon’s presence. Vincent got off his horse and point at him. “Stay Blaze.” His tone was stern and he looked the horse in the eye. It turned its dark eyes to him but understood. The horse lowered his head and did its best to remain still.
Going to the three of them Vincent looked at Alison and touched her arms. They felt cold and the closer he touched to the veins the worse it felt. “She’s never done this before, right?”
“Never,” Alistair said holding her other hand and rubbing it as if that would warm her up and help.
“Alright. This is bad. But before any of that we need to get the hell out of here. Cause when that thing thaws, I don’t want to be anywhere near it.”
“Agreed.” Morrigan said finally standing again and shaking her head. “What’s the closest town to here?”
Vincent named it without a second thought, “Seylim. It’s at least 30 miles away.”
“Then we better start riding.” She drew her rapier again and started spinning it above her head slowly. Just as he appeared before Earego came forward like a ghost. He showed no pain or hurt from the demon they were fighting.
She crouched and picked up the girl, putting her onto the horse and getting on behind her. Alistair looked ready to object when she affixed him with a look. “I’ll make sure she’s safe. Both of you aren’t going to fit safely on one horse.”
He wanted to argue but Vincent put his hand on his shoulder. “Come on. She’ll be safe. Barring any other bullshit happening tonight.”
The pair got on Blaze and kicked off down the street. As they rode Alistair couldn’t stop looking back at the demon in the distance and his sister a few feet away from him.
The Harlequin Library 